EAST AFRICA KIVO PROJECT
My name is Lis Addison. I've been a
musician, dancer, environmentalist and supporter of women's wisdom my entire
life and in recent years have blended these passions into a practice called
KiVo®, which is short for Kinetic Voice. KiVo is a fun and powerful art form
that combines vocals, dance and rhythm and builds community.
While developing KiVo, I researched
the song/dance tradition worldwide. My research took me to Kenya and Tanzania
where I enjoyed KiVo like celebrations with many communities during my
tree-planting service work there. Now I'm happy to be returning to plant trees
in the Mulingana Primary School Yard in Kenya, share and learn more songs and
dances and contribute to the livelihood of women, by opening a KiVo Sewing and
Design Center in Arusha, Tanzania, which will manufacture schoolchildren's uniforms.
I will also record music and video while I'm there to incorporate into the KiVo
practice.
This Project is important to me
because I believe that singing and dancing together is our birthright. It
creates joy, cultural exchange and harmony between people, nature and spirit. I
believe trees are beautiful old beings and as the lungs of the earth help to
reverse the effects of global warming. I also believe that the sisters of the world
must support one another and bring their voices of wisdom forward to benefit
their families and the coming generations.
When I went to Mulingana Primary
School in Kangundo, a county outside of Nairobi, I saw dozens of schoolchildren
playing soccer with a ball they'd made out of old t-shirts. They were playing
in the dusty dirt and blazing sun because there were no trees to shade them or
reduce soil erosion. I made a decision right then to support The Kamba women's
project which, in association with the Green Belt Movement will plant 1,000
trees in the schoolyard. We planted 3 that day. Only 9,997 more to go!
After Kenya, I went to Tanzania
where I worked with teachers and students affiliated with Roots & Shoots. I
taught school and the students performed my music and choreography for me, which
they'd learned before I arrived! I also learned traditional Morogoro
song/dances and got to plant a tree on Mt. Kilimanjaro. I have been
communicating with my friends in Arusha via Facebook. They are school teachers
and we have decided to open the KiVo Sewing and Design Center to support women
who need jobs and children who need uniforms (all the students in E. Africa
wear them-public and private).
What We Need & What You Get
Your
support will provide money to
buy trees, water and a caretaker who will drive a water truck for 2
years to
Mulingana Primary since there are no hoses at the school in Kangundo. It
will pay rent, fabric, thread and scissors for the Sewing Center in
Arusha, Tanzania for one year. It will pay for the extra baggage charge
for the 2 sewing machines I am taking. We already have 4 at the site.
Your support will pay for my transportation to
Nairobi and Kangundo with GBM to plant the trees and record the
songs and dances of the Kamba community and it will pay for my
transportation to Arusha to establish the KiVo Sewing and Design Center
and continue recording songs and
dances.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you cannot contribute, please
share this link and the Indiegogo share tools and tell your friends about us!
Join us in any way you can. You are welcome to sing and dance with us, too: www.kivokineticvoice.com.
Karibu sana!
